The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-10
WIVES OF MANAGERS.


From the Neic York Morning Journal.
One of the stage carpent ers in a promi-
mont theatre remarked sagely the other
day:
II see good deal in the papers about the
Misters of the profession, but | seldom see
ANYTHING about the Mistresses. But they've
got lot to say.P
This is probably true Most men in this
independent America of ours depend good
deal more on their wives advice than they
care to own, and among the managers, who
rule business that is the plaything of every
breeze that blows, the rule is most binding
This grows, perhaps, from the fact that in
theatrical matters woman to-day "rules the
roost,n and woman can ordinarily tell what
will please her sex better than q man in the
way of plays. For instance, Mr.. A. M. Pal
mer, whose business acumen and thorough
common sense in the selection of his pieces
is universally acknowledged, and, what is
better still, is attested by his uniform sue
cess, never brings out drama or a comedy
at the popular Madison Sqaure Theatre with
out submitting it for a reading TO Mrs Pal
mer and she has often made suggestions that
have added in no small degree to the attrac-
tiveness Of the play indeed, within a month
past the new comedy-drama that was &C
cepted by Mr.. Palmer was subsequently
much improved through Mrs. Palmers sug-
gestion that the original motive of the piece
was not sufficient upon which to base the
consequences that followed from it; and so
the author took l. back, re-arranged this
motive so as to make the original crime more
striking than at first, and the piece immedi-
ately became one of great interest, where
formerly, perhaps, its success might have
been doubtful.
Mrs. Palmer is a handsome lady, most
striking i'll her appearance. For year or
so she has been a great deal of an invalid,
but has rapidly improved of late, and will
soon be able to devote herself once more to
the social duties of which she is fond, and
the deprivation of which has been great
source of concern Ill many households. For
Mrs. Palmer does not consent to be a but
terfy of fashion for its pleasures alone,
but seldom loses sight of the good that
she can do by means of her social connec-
tons. She has, for instance, established
several sewing societies, in which she is a
most active worker, and which have been
of enormous benefit to the poor of her
neighborhood. Within short time she has
moved again to New York from her beauti-
full home at Stamford, Conn. And it may be
relied upon that during the present winter
she will again undertake the works of benef-
icence with which her name is SO intimately
identified.
Mr.. Henry E. Abbey has a wife who is
universally known-so far as New York is
concerned, at any rate-for her sterling abili-
ties as an actress, and her work at Wallacks
Theatre is likely to be the most noticed of
any stock actress of the season. Mrs. Abbey
was formerly known as Florence Gerard,
and obtained a very enviable reputation in
England for the versatility, as well as the
worth, of all she did She generally pre-
ferred comedy performances, and in the line
OF the higher class of burlesque she was con-
sidered unrivaled on the other side When
Edwin Booth first went to England, how
ever, he was supported in the great parts of
the legitimate drama by the present Mrs.
Abbey, and it is that fact, perhaps that
brought her most prominently before the
American public, so that a little while after
ward she was engaged by Mr. John Stetson
as the leading lady of the stock company
which he formed at the Fifth Avenue The
atre, which had Charles Coghlan for its
leading man.
Mr.. Stetson then found out and learned
lesson which, to some extent, Mr. Abbey is
learning now, and thatis that the New York
pnblic will not stand any very long siege of
old plays. If we are right, Mr. Stetson
opened his season with Bulwer's Money,
which Mrs. Abbey, then Florence Gerard,
appeared in as ''Clara Douglas. This was
followed by The Dukes Motto and neither
u DueSS pieces any dUUSHJlOU. III
was only when Florence Gerard appeared, in
conjunction with Henry E. Dixey, in bur-
lesque on Irving's Shylock, the lady
playing a most exquisite satire of Ellen
Telry's Portia, that New York ran in
crowds to see the entertainment, and it is
one of the few burlesque performances that
will be for many years remembered. After
that Mr.. Stetson got somewhat out of
patience with his stock company generally,
.o-Ih 70
She met with a grievous accident in New
Haven through slipping on the ice,
and injured her knee-cap very seriously
1t is an injury that still affects her not a
little.
About two years ago Mr.. Abbey met her
in London, and not very long after the the
atrical world was surprised at their mar
riage. Mr.. Abbey does not conceal the fact
that he has been thoroughly happy man
ever since then, and that in the manage
ment of Wallack's Theatre he has a help
meet who is of the greatest aid to him.
Mrs. Abbey is very pretty woman, slight
Of figure, stylish of dress and intensely de-
voted to her profession. Her "Pollyn in
Caste is so far the best performance she
has given this season, but in Diplom
acy, which is to follow For get Me-
Not, she is likely to have a role of more
Importance than any other she has attended
so far.
Mrs DAILY, the wife of Augustin DAILY, is
familiar figure at first night perform
ances especially in the theatre which her
husband manages, where she is accustomed
to sit in the left hand box with her family.
Mrs. DAILY is the daughter of John Duff,
whose retirement from the management
of the Standard Theatre has recently been
made public She has a splendid home,
furnished most deliberately, few blocks
from the theatre, where she entertains
largely, and is known among the Catholics
as one of the most generous patronesses Of
all the charities connected with the
church. Indeed, on this subject she is an
enthusiast.
Handsome Katie Stokes, large-eyed and
black-haired, who recently became the wife
OF John Stetson, after coutship that last
ed couple of years, now lives principally
In Boston, which is the home of this popular
and enterprising manager. Katie Stokes,
the maiden name of Mrs. Stetson, is the
daughter of old Mr. Stokes, who is now the
treasurer of the Fifth Avenue Theatre, but
who in his time was one of the most cele-
brated men connected with the circus pro-
fession. He ran many circus of his own,
and at times made huge sums of money. He
was wise enough in the days of his prosper
lty to teach his three daughters the tech
nique of the sawdust arena, and two of them
at least became celebrated ricers, the best
known being Katie Stokes herself. She was
daring rider, and being young, graceful
and beautiful, attracted a large share of
fl1.,N nlnts hn TINA